The First Frost controversy: Viral C-Drama divides viewers but draws fans to Chongqing

The First Frost, China's latest viral C-drama, has become both a cultural sensation and a lightning rod for controversy, according to reports.

Directed by filmmaker Chu Yu-Ning, best known for It Started with a Kiss, the drama is adapted from a popular web novel by Zhu Yi and stars Zhang Ruonan and Bai Jingting in the lead roles. The story follows Wen Yifan, a woman scarred by a traumatic childhood and repeated sexual assault, who reconnects with her high school classmate Sang Yan.

Now roommates as adults, their evolving relationship is marked by emotional dependence—Wen sees Sang Yan as her one constant, a figure of protection and safety.

While the show has been applauded for its honest portrayal of trauma, it has faced criticism for leaning too heavily on the trope of the helpless female lead. Viewers argue that Wen Yifan is often portrayed as passive, with the narrative positioning male characters as her rescuers—a portrayal many consider outdated.

This isn’t the first time Zhu Yi’s work has stirred debate. Her earlier hit Hidden Love (2023) also faced scrutiny for its age-gap romance, in which the male lead first meets the female protagonist when she is just 14. Although their relationship only turns romantic after she turns 18, the flirtatious tone in the early episodes raised concerns among audiences.

Both series have been accused of infantilizing their female leads, yet they continue to perform well on global platforms. The First Frost holds an 8.3 rating on IMDb, while Hidden Love sits at 8.6. In contrast, Chinese viewers have been more critical—Douban scores for the shows are significantly lower at 5.4 and 6.7.

Controversy hasn’t slowed the show’s momentum. The First Frost has gone viral on Weibo and sparked a surge in tourism to Chongqing, where it was filmed. The drama highlights the city’s distinctive architecture and colorful residential areas, prompting fans to create and share handmade guide maps to its filming locations.

Whether praised for its emotional storytelling or challenged for its